New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-30
PRICE TRIES TO JUSTIFY HIMSELE
HIS QUEER REPORT TO THE POLICE BOARD.

TELLING WHY HE ARRESTED MRS. LAWRENCE AND
HER FRIENDs-CAPTAIN wILLIAMs's APPROVAL.
Police Superintendent Murray yesterday received
from Captain Williams and Detective Price, OF the
West Tbireth-st station long reports regarding the,
arrest OF Mrs. Elizabeth Lawrence Miss Laura Brent
and Mrs. Mamie Graham at Mrs. Lawrtnce's house,
No. 43 West Twenty eghth-st., the night of Janu,
airy 25. Detective Price stated in hi report that hs
went to the house in company with Miss Evelyn Gran
VILE, who had made complaint at the police station
at o p. Miss Granville had given 10 him pass key
but he rang the bell of the front door he preferred
to enter that way. The door was opened by a young
who the detective afterward learned the son
of Mrs. Lawrence. The young man said that Mrs.
Lawrence was In and be went upstairs to call hsr
while Price remained in the lower hall with Miss GraI,-
vile and her maid. Mrs. Lawrence appeared a.
the top of the first fight OF stairs and Prcc up to
speak to her. She said she the head of the house.
Price says that he handed to her his card showed his
shield and said he had been directed by his captain to
make investigation of Miss Granville's complaint
He asserts that be noticed that Mrs. Lawrence had
been drinking" While he was talking to her tive
women stood the landing and listened to the
conversation. 0ne Of them, Mrs. Brent, who PIios
alleges was very much intoxicated said to the de-
amt no officer You're that wOmans lover" and she
pointed to Miss Granville in the lower hallway. Price
said he was an officer and did not wish to talk with her
at all only with Mrs. Lawrence He declares that she
repeated that he was that wOmans lover" and struck
him in the face Up to that time Price says he had held
his hat in his hand. Then he tut hi. hat on his head
and tried to push Mrs. Brent away from him.
Mrs. Lawrence inquired angrily how he dared to
have his hat on in her house, and he says she alss
struck him. He caught hold of both women saying
that he would arrest them Tor assault. Mrs. Law.
rences son and daughter upstairs and joined in the
attack Price, who called down to Miss Granville to
send to the police station Tor help.
There was q lively time, the detective wrote until
woman ran down stairs from an upper room and said,
him." Price did not know the woman's name. Then
there quiet until policeman in uniform entered.
Price directed him to take Mrs Brent to the station
and he gave Mrs. Lawrence opportunity to dress tor
the street Mrs Lawrence was permitted to walk with
her son to the station On the way Mrs Graham who,
Price says, also intoxicated reved the detective.
She was placed under arrest on charge OF disOrdey
conduct in tho station Testimony to the facts
given the following day in the police and the
women fined $40 each, As il to challenge Mrs
Lawrence and her friends to make complaint al
Police Headquarters, Price closed his report in this
q" most emphatically state that previously to going
to that house had knowledge of the house or Of
the inmates. From the time entered the house
until left it endeay Ored to and did act the part OF
gentleman gave no one any occasion to assault or
abuse me, and had not the prisoners arrested been
drunk the arrest would never have occurred Miss ts
affidavit made by myself From the appearance of the
prisoners from their conversation and conduct before
and after leaving the house, am satisfied that they
not respectable women and that the house Is not
respectable house."
Captain Williams supported Detective Price by stat
ing that the prisoners intoxicated when they
brought to the police station, and that they did not
protest when Price made his complaint. He explained
how he came to send Pce to Mrs Lawrences house by
relating Miss Granville's complaint to him. Miss
Granville had said that an attempt had been made 10
lock her in and she thought her life property
would not be safe in the honse The captain told Price
TO 20 and see if Mrs. Lawrence would promise not to
1jnre Miss Granyes property until it could be moved
On the following day. He thought Price justified
In making the arrests.
Detective Price to Police Headquarters yester-
lay and said to Superintendent Murray that he desired
iull Ia vestigaon account OF the newspaper re-
ports MIR. Murray sent Sergeant Warts to see Mrs.
Lawrence and invite her to furnish any evidence which
she cared to have given in the She said she
not willing present to axe affidavit to
N n complaint against Detective Price because Mrs.
Brent and Mrs. Graham were in Boston and might not
be willing to return to this city to give their testimony.